David Nebenzahl wrote in
.com:

snip

Couple points to try to allay further confusion:

1. Even a ceramic cartridge requires a preamp, but one that
has different equalization from one for a magnetic
cartridge. A ceramic cartridge does *not* output a
line-level signal.

I just found that out on a web site. But I am still not sure if
the cartridge IS ceramic.

I guess I will have to strip the 4 long thin wires from the
original cartridge (I saved it) and connect it to the now-
extended cable. If it works - and /something/ tells me it will,
the cables were high quality so even I could not screw up the
simple solder jobs - then the BSR cart is ceramic and the
matter ends there.

The unit will make a *great* AM/line in receiver, and an
acceptable FM receiver. It has a very cool retro look, being
white with black knobs. /And/ it has 2 sets of speaker outputs.

2. As someone else said, you can get small, standalone
phono preamps (for mag. carts) for not very much. No need
for a fancy-schmancy full-featured preamp. You could
permanently wire it into the unit and would be on your way.

As I said to DL:

I use eternal september but I live in a god forsaken
horrible 3rd world country (without a SINGLE Usenet
server, paid or otherwise) where everything is either
unavailable, does not work (returns or exchanges are not a
known concept here) or costs 2-5 times what it does in
civilization.

I saw one online for US$30. It would cost me at least $75 here,
with a 3 month special order wait and no warranty/return. If I
buy it online myself, assuming they even ship here, it will get
stolen by local "postal employees". FedEx is not worth the cost,
see last paragraph.

3. Ceramic cartridges aren't as good (fidelity-wise) as
magnetics, and aren't as kind to your records either (less
compliance). So try to use a decent magnetic cartridge.

I know - but this is just a little hobby project - I like old
stuff and I hate to throw away something that works. I have a
stereo with a Dolby B/C deck and a Philips turntable which I am
using to transfer my old vinyl and cassettes to mp3. Nothing
great, but it does the job, even though it is about 20 years old
- "Made in Japan" ;-)


--
Any mental activity is easy if it need not be subjected to
reality.